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Antarctica's frozen waters may have helped baleen whales evolve, according to a study published in the journal Science. A team of researchers studied fossilized organisms and discovered a link between the changing ecosystem, the increase of sea ice in the South Pole and the rise of baleen whales to feed on the population of plankton.

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The unprecedented reduction in sea ice in the Arctic has resulted in an increase in whales in the region, scientists say. The ice reduction has spurred blooms of phytoplankton and zooplankton, drawing at least three species of baleen whales.

The fossilized remains of a single-celled plankton called dinoflagellates has revealed that the ecosystem of Antarctica is about 33.6 million years old. Researchers say that as the region began to cool around the end of the Eocene Epoch, plankton diversity decreased to only those that could survive the cold temperatures. "Our data suggest that this change may have promoted the evolution of modern baleen whales and penguins," said study researcher Jörg Pross, a paleoclimatologist at Goethe University in Germany.

The Chinese Academy of Sciences plans to establish research centers in China and elsewhere. The academy plans to work with the World Academy of Sciences to set up centers. The plans are part of China's commitment to aid developing countries. "The breakthrough science and technology that's happening here in China can help the poorest people in the world lead healthier, more productive lives," said Bill Gates, the co-chair and trustee of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Babies as young as five months are capable of being conscious of the world around them, according to a study published in the journal Science. Researchers looked at the neural activity of babies and found that their brain showed evidence of activity when shown a subliminal image, suggesting awareness of their environment.

Combining modern science with traditional knowledge could be the key to improving productivity among African farmers with less ecological cost, according to a report by the international group Montpellier Panel. Known as "sustainable intensification," the method could boost food security in Africa, helping even smallholder farmers grow crops, the authors say.